I've just moved to Bern and wish to leverage my native English writing/editing/proofreading skills to earn a freelance income.
I am proficient in both academic and business English.
Where/how/whom should I contact/advertise with to get a foot into the market?
I seek to do this while I investigate undertaking my PhD at a Swiss University, and before I have secured funding.
Moreover, I would enjoy such an opportunity as opposed to taking up any job just to make ends meet.

I've just moved to Bern and wish to leverage my native English writing/editing/proofreading skills to earn a freelance income.
I am proficient in both academic and business English.
Where/how/whom should I contact/advertise with to get a foot into the market?
I seek to do this while I investigate undertaking my PhD at a Swiss University, and before I have secured funding.
Moreover, I would enjoy such an opportunity as opposed to taking up any job just to make ends meet.

Thanks for any advice!

There's no easy way of putting this, but I don't think this is something you're well suited to. I just skimmed through some of your previous messages, and there are mistakes in all of them, including howlers like using an apostrophe in a plural.

I wouldn't normally be rude enough to point out errors, but if you want to 'earn a freelance income' as a writer/editor/proofreader, you need something more than the ability to speak English. As part of my job, I occasionally try to hire freelancers to write/review/proofread. It's a particular skill that many people sincerely think they have (particularly in a non-English-speaking nation), but few actually do possess.

One test that's worth asking yourself is this: back in England (or wherever you're from) would you regard yourself, and be regarded by others, as a professional-standard writer/editor/proofreader?

Most people admit that they wouldn't. Weirdly, when we move to another country, we think we've become experts at something we weren't that good at in our old lives.

You may have other writing skills for all I know, like creating advertising slogans or songwriting or teaching EFL, but good editing and proofreading are less about creativity and more about having an obsessive eye for detail, a hobbyist's depth of technical knowledge, and an awareness of different cultural norms based on plenty of experience.

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There's no easy way of putting this, but I don't think this is something you're well suited to. I just skimmed through some of your previous messages, and there are mistakes in all of them, including howlers like using an apostrophe in a plural.

I wouldn't normally be rude enough to point out errors, but if you want to 'earn a freelance income' as a writer/editor/proofreader, you need something more than the ability to speak English. As part of my job, I occasionally try to hire freelancers to write/review/proofread. It's a particular skill that many people sincerely think they have (particularly in a non-English-speaking nation), but few actually do possess.

One test that's worth asking yourself is this: back in England (or wherever you're from) would you regard yourself, and be regarded by others, as a professional-standard writer/editor/proofreader?

Most people admit that they wouldn't. Weirdly, when we move to another country, we think we've become experts at something we weren't that good at in our old lives.

You may have other writing skills for all I know, like creating advertising slogans or songwriting or teaching EFL, but good editing and proofreading are less about creativity and more about having an obsessive eye for detail, a hobbyist's depth of technical knowledge, and an awareness of different cultural norms based on plenty of experience.

Hi Pachyderm,

Sorry for bumping/hijacking this thread for my own purposes! I was googling for writing jobs in Switzerland and came across this post...and decided to (finally) sign up.
I would actually be interested in what the OP wrote about, with the added bonus that my answer to your queries is a resounding "yes!".
I come across so many websites with badly written copy, typos, awful style, etc., and it drives me up the wall! I was just looking at a translating/copywriting company that requires you to have 5 years of experience before applying, yet has a glaring gallicism on the application page.
This invariably irks my obsessive compulsive correcting disorder, and I often come close to emailing the offending company (though I usually don't because they should be hiring competent people, and also because it would probably be considered rude on my part).

I currently write copy and blog for an American company, and I'm looking for more freelance work, preferably editing or proofreading (as I do quite a lot of writing already). I travel often so it would need to be something that isn't geographically binding.
(I'm also exploring translating options, but that's not really relevant here.)

I have a couple of places in mind that I'd like to apply to, but if you have any suggestions I would be grateful!

Sorry for bumping/hijacking this thread for my own purposes! I was googling for writing jobs in Switzerland and came across this post...and decided to (finally) sign up.
I would actually be interested in what the OP wrote about, with the added bonus that my answer to your queries is a resounding "yes!".
I come across so many websites with badly written copy, typos, awful style, etc., and it drives me up the wall! I was just looking at a translating/copywriting company that requires you to have 5 years of experience before applying, yet has a glaring gallicism on the application page.
This invariably irks my obsessive compulsive correcting disorder, and I often come close to emailing the offending company (though I usually don't because they should be hiring competent people, and also because it would probably be considered rude on my part).

I currently write copy and blog for an American company, and I'm looking for more freelance work, preferably editing or proofreading (as I do quite a lot of writing already). I travel often so it would need to be something that isn't geographically binding.
(I'm also exploring translating options, but that's not really relevant here.)

I have a couple of places in mind that I'd like to apply to, but if you have any suggestions I would be grateful!

Is the font that bad? Looks readable to me Didn't even know one could choose fonts here.

Generally you want non-serif fonts like this one for screens and serif ones like this for print.

It makes it easier to read based on the media you are using. Serif fonts describe the extra "bits" on the letters that can make it easier to read, but can clutter a screen. But it is also a matter of taste and may be changing as screens get better resolution.